Light output device and control method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a light output device ( 10 ) comprising a plurality of light source units ( 18 ) arranged in a laminated glass structure. The light output device is characterized by a plurality of switchable liquid crystal-based ( 24 ) devices arranged to alter the beam shapes of light emitted by the light source units when in a beam shape altering mode. The present invention also relates to a method for controlling a light output device.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A light output device, comprising:
 a plurality of light source units arranged in a laminated glass structure for emitting light, wherein the light source units are arranged between a top glass plate and a bottom glass plate bonded to form the laminated glass structure, 
 a plurality of compound parabolic concentrators for pre-collimating the light emitted by the light source units, and 
 a plurality of switchable liquid crystal-based devices arranged to alter the beam shapes of light emitted by the light source units, wherein the top glass plate forms a transparent element, having a fixed refractive index, of each switchable liquid crystal-based device. 
 
     
     
       2. A light output device according to  claim 1 , wherein the switchable crystal-based devices are selectively addressable. 
     
     
       3. A light output device according to  claim 1 , wherein each light source unit comprises one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs).